RAJSHAHI, Aug 6, 2023 (BSS) - Integrated efforts of extension, research and other entities concerned can be the best ways of boosting production of quality seeds to meet the gradually mounting demands of various grain and other cash crops.

More coordination between the work of various agencies under the ministry of agriculture, particularly Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Seed Certification Agency (SCA), Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI) and Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), has become an urgent need to attain the cherished goal.

The observation came at a seminar titled "Seed Industries Development through using Smart Technologies in Rajshahi region" here today participated by the regional and district level officials under the ministry of agriculture.

SCA Rajshahi Regional Office organized the seminar at its conference hall discussing and devising ways and means on how to make the country self-reliant in seed through successful promotion of the smart technologies.

Additional Secretary (Extension) to the Ministry of Agriculture Rabindrashree Barua addressed the seminar as chief guest with SCA Director Ahmed Shafi in the chair.

DAE Additional Directors Shamsul Wadud and Sharker Shafi Uddin Ahmed, Chief Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute Dr Iliash Hossain, BRRI Principal Scientific Officer Dr Fazlul Islam and Manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority ATM Rafiqul Islam also spoke.

Dr Sheikh Ruhul Amin, Regional Seed Certification Officer, gave an illustration on the issue side by side with portraying agricultural scenarios in the region during his keynote presentation.

Additional Secretary Rabindrashree Barua said vigorous promotional programmes, including incentives, training and motivation, have been taken for boosting quality seeds.

He said there are needs of out of the box thinking to bring innovation in the seed production activities as there is no way but to promote smart technologies in the seed production and other agriculture purposes for desired yield.

Mr Barua opined that there is an immense prospect of boosting production of the seeds after the best uses of modern varieties and technologies in the region, including its vast Barind tract.

Later, the additional secretary accompanied by others concerned shared views with seed traders and seed producers. They also visited the seed storage belonging to High Tech Agro Private limited at Majhigram village under Paba Upazila.